by Ka'Deem for DyeStat Florida

What a time to be alive!

It was a crazy week leading up to the newly formatted state championships at IMG Academy last week, and most athletes have simmered down, taking in the sun and enjoying Mother Nature, or catching up on schoolwork.

And then there’s Brandon Cachon.

The Barron Collier senior ended his running career for the Cougars last weekend on a high note, finishing as a state champion in the 400-meters, 4x800-meter relay, and runner-up in both the 200-meters and 4x400-meter relay respectively. Due to his efforts, the Cougars finished as the 3A state runners-up.

Just two days after the state meet, Cachon took to Twitter, saying, “I want that Brooks PR Invite.”

Cachon is preparing to saddle up for the Flo Golden South Invitational on May 28, taking place at the National Training Center in Clermont, May 28th. Taking the place of the original Golden South Classic, which had had been running since 1976, the Flo Golden South Invitational will now serve as an automatic qualifier to the Brooks PR Invitational on June 20, at the Shoreline Stadium in Seattle, WA, instead of being a qualifier for the adidas Dream 100 and Dream Mile as it had in the past.

In the 100-meters, 400-meters, 800-meters, and the mile, the winners of the Classic Division will receive the famed and highly sought-after Golden Ticket and will be flown out to Seattle to compete against the best in the nation.

Cachon has his eyes on the 400.

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill commit ran 47.74 to get the win in the 400-meters at the state meet last week, but he says that he had more in the tank.

“I was going for a 46 but the 4x800 killed my legs and the wind didn't help,” Cachon said in a recent interview with DyeStat Florida. “And I was going in wanting and seeded to get first.”

Assuming that he’ll be completely fresh and ready to go come the meet, Cachon is approaching the race with a similar attitude.

Photo by Robert "Twangster" Brown - Running the Curve at the 2016 2A State Track and Field Championships

“If I run to my full potential, I have a good chance of doing something special,” he says.

Cachon knows that he’s a 46 guy. How? He’s done it before and has run low 47 a few times as well. He knows what he’s capable of; now he just has to put it all together in one race.

Qualifying for such a prestigious meet would, as Cachon says, “mean the world.” Being able to compete at something that big, that many kids dream of going to and competing at, would be the perfect way to end his senior year.

“I've done the training I've had to do to get to this point. Now I have to put it on the table and show everyone what I got.”